Cushioned curtain for apparel

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to an improved curtain for forming waistbands for trousers, slacks, skirts and similar garments in which the curtain comprises a soft outer fabric (to be closest to the skin), a relatively stiff inner fabric (to be closest to the fabric of the garment), and a layer of sponge or foamed elastomeric material between the outer and inner fabrics.

ited States Patent 191 Goodman Apr. 30, 1974 [54] CUSHIONED CURTAIN FOR APPAREL 3,559,213 2/1971 Goodman 2/237 [76] Inventor: Sheldon Goodman, 66 Essex Pl.,

Dumom 17628 Przmary Exammer-l-l. Hampton Hunter Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Greene & Durr [22] Filed: July 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 375,952 [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to an improved curtain for 521 US. Cl. 2/237 forming waistbands for r r ks, kirts and im- 511 Int. Cl. A41f 9/00 ilar garments in which h r in omprises a soft [58] Fi ld of Se h 2/236 237 220 221 76 outer fabric (to be closest to the skin), a relatively stiff inner fabric (to be closest to the fabric of the gar- [56] Ref Cit d 7 ment), and a layer of sponge or foamed elastomeric UNITED STATES PATENTS material between the outer and inner fabrics.

3,221,346 12/1965 Johnson et al 2/236 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures l I W CUSHIONED CURTAIN FOR APPAREL This invention relates to a cushioned curtain for applying to the waistbands of trousers, slacks, dresses, skirts, and similar outer garments.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a curtain which when applied to a constricted part of a garment, such as a waistband, provides a soft, spongy, comfortable feeling to the body of the wearer despite its constriction.

Among other objects of the invention is to provide a curtain or wistband for trousers, slacks, skirts and similar garments which cover portions of the body from the waist down, which waistband hugs the body and holds upper garments tucked inside the waistband better than conventional types of waistbands or curtains.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An essential feature of the invention is that a layer of expanded, soft, elastomeric material is incorporated into the curtain'or waistband. It is known that fabrics laminated with a layer of foam material have been made into raincoats, sleeping bags, bedding materials, insulating garments, etc. In such articles, the layer of foam material is ordinarily secured to the fabric base by flame laminating or adhesives.

Curtains or waistbands ordinarily include at least two layers of fabric of approximately the same width as the waistband, according to the present disclosure (1) the layer which is closest to the skin of the wearer and which is ordinarily made of a soft fabric that does not scratch or is not harsh against the skin of the wearer, will be called the outer layer, and (2) the layer which extends between the outer layer-and the fabric of the garment and which can be made of stiff, support material will be called the inner layer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a thin strip of soft, elastomeric foam r sponge, approximately the width of the curtain, is applied to the curtain between the inner fabric and the outer fabric of the curtain so as to provide a soft, spongy feel when the outer fabric of the curtain of constricting means on they garment presses against the body.

A suitable soft foam material is that made of polyurethane. Such polyurethane strips can be about /a inch to 'r inch thick, have a density of about 1 4 lb. per cubic foot, and, as stated above, have the approximate width of the curtain. Such materials are washable and dry cleanable. They are also non-toxic, non-allergenic, and do not absorb moisture or body odors. They resist heat temperatures of l04l22C and can be made from special materials to resist heat up to about 230C. or more. Any other soft foam or sponge material which is washable, dry cleanable, and reasonably resistant to ironing temperatures may be substituted for the polyurethane foam.

It has also been found, more or less unexpectedly, that the reaction of the foam to temporarily applied stresses or pressures (which may be localized, when a garment containing the same is worn), serves as a recovery agent and aids in maintaining the shape of the waistband and in preventing the band from rolling.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly cut away to show the lay ers of a curtain without attaching tabs, made according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a portion of the fabric of a garment attached thereto.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the combination of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of curtain.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the curtain of FIG. 4 attached to a garment.

FIG. 6 is a view showing another modified form of curtain.

In the curtain, without the attaching tab as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the inner support 10 is formed of relatively stiff fabric, the outer fabric 1 1, which becomes the fab ric closest to the skin of the wearer is made of relatively soft fabric and the strip of foam or sponge 12 is between fabrics 10 and 11. As shown, the inner fabric 11 extends around one edge of the foam strip and overlaps the lower edge of the support fabric. It will be noted that the curtain, as shown in FIG. 2, is in the reversed position from that of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2 also, the material of the garment 20 extends over the support fabric 10; The three curtain layers 10, 11 and 12, as shown in FIG. 1, need only one line of stitching 13 to hold them together until they are attached to the garment. The curtain then is attached to the garment through stitching 16 and, if desired, an additional line of stitching 15 (FIG. 3).

FIG. 4 shows a similar curtain with a sewing tab 14 attached by means of the line of stitching 13. Like numbers refer to similar parts in the drawings. FIG. 5 shows how the curtain of FIG. 4 is attached to the garment fabric 20, 21 which have previously been connected by the invisible stitching 22, the tab 14 being further attached to 20' by stitching 24.

The curtain illustrated in FIG. 6 has an additional, no-roll, strip 23 added adjacent the inside fabric. The outer fabric layer 11,11 which, as defined above, will be the layer closest to the skin of the wearer, is made in two pieces so that no visible line of stitching appears on the inside curtain along the lower edge thereof.

Thus, it will be seen that the smoothness and rigidity of the waistband is determined primarily by the support fabric 10 and the body of the strip of foam provides an elastomeric cushion which allows for minor expansions of the body during bending and other movements. At the same time, the elastomeric cushion holds waists or skirts which may be tucked under the waistband when the muscles of the wearer in the area of the waistband contract.

I claim:

1. A curtain for waistbands of outer wearing apparel comprising an inner strip of support fabric having a width approximately equal to the waistband,

an outer strip of relatively soft fabric of a width to extend over the side of the band next to the body of the wearer, to loop under the band and overlaps at least a lower edge of the support fabric,

a strip of flexible, elastomeric, washable and dry cleanable foam of approximately the width of the band extending between the support fabric and the outer fabric, and

means uniting said three strips together along the region within the overlapping edges of the support and outer fabrics.

2. The curtain as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foam strip is 1$ inch to k inch thick.

3. A curtain for waistbands as claimed in claim 1 comprising an additional sewing tab united to the curtain along a line adjacent to the overlapping edges of the support and outer fabrics.

4. A garment of the type having a waistband wherein said waistband is formed for a curtain comprising an inner strip of support fabric having a width approximately equal to the waistband,

an outer strip of relatively soft fabric of a width to extend over the side of the band next to the body of the wearer, to loop under the band and to overlap at least a lower edge portion of the support fabric,

a strip of flexible, elastomeric, washable and dry cleanable foam of approximately the width of the band between the support fabric and the outer soft fabric,

means uniting said three strips together along the region within the overlapping edges of the support and outer fabrics, and

the fabric of said garment being united to the curtain adjacent the upper edges of the three layers of the latter.

5. A garment as claimed in claim 4, wherein said curtain contains, in addition, a sewing tab united thereto adjacent the means uniting the three layers together, said curtain also being united to said garment by a line of stitching along said sewing tab.

6. The curtain as claimed in claim 4 wherein the foam strip is /s inch to A inch thick. 

1. A curtain for waistbands of outer wearing apparel comprising an inner strip of support fabric having a width approximately equal to the waistband, an outer strip of relatively soft fabric of a width to extend over the side of the band next to the body of the wearer, to loop under the band and overlaps at least a lower edge of the support fabric, a strip of flexible, elastomeric, washable and dry cleanable foam of approximately the width of the band extending between the support fabric and the outer fabric, and means uniting said three strips together along the region within the overlapping edges of the support and outer fabrics.
 2. The curtain as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foam strip is 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch thick.
 3. A curtain for waistbands as claimed in claim 1 comprising an additional sewing tab united to the curtain along a line adjacent to the overlapping edges of the support and outer fabrics.
 4. A garment of the type having a waistband wherein said waistband is formed for a curtain comprising an inner strip of support fabric having a width approximately equal to the waistband, an outer strip of relatively soft fabric of a width to extend over the side of the band next to the body of the wearer, to loop under the band and to overlap at least a lower edge portion of the support fabric, a strip of flexible, elastomeric, washable and dry cleanable foam of apprOximately the width of the band between the support fabric and the outer soft fabric, means uniting said three strips together along the region within the overlapping edges of the support and outer fabrics, and the fabric of said garment being united to the curtain adjacent the upper edges of the three layers of the latter.
 5. A garment as claimed in claim 4, wherein said curtain contains, in addition, a sewing tab united thereto adjacent the means uniting the three layers together, said curtain also being united to said garment by a line of stitching along said sewing tab.
 6. The curtain as claimed in claim 4 wherein the foam strip is 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch thick. 